Magnetostrictive vibratory apparatus



1963 c. KLEESATTEL ETAL 3,100,853

MAGNETOSTRICTIVE VIBRATQRY APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. .2 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG, 3

. INVENTORS' I cLAus KLEESATT'EL Lewis BALAML/T'H ARTHUR KURIS M way A TTORNEY Aug. 13, 1963 c. KLEESATTEL ETAL 3,

MAGNETOSTRICTIVE VIBRATORY APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 2. 1959 2 sheets-sneeze In I INVENT ORS 1 III gum Afforneg United stat Patcflt 3,100,853 'MAGNETOSTRICTIVE VIBRATORY APPARATUS Claus Kleesattel, Forest Hills, Lewis 'Balamuth, New

York, and Arthur Kuris, Riverdale, N.Y., assignors to Cavitron Ultrasonics Inc, a corporation of'New York Original application Nov. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 850,406, now 1 Patent No. 3,056,698, dated Oct. 2, 1962. Divided Claims. (Cl. 31026) and this application Aug. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 1 31,667 v This invention relates to vibratory apparatus, .and more particularly to an improved accoustical vibnator assembly and an improved magnetostrictive vibrator unit designed to convert high treq-uency electrical energy into a mechanical vibratory power at high conversion :efliciency.

This application is a division of ourcopending application Serial No. 850,406 filed November 2, '1959, now U.S. Patent 3,056,698 patented October 2, 1962.

Patented Aug. 13, 1963 ice ablylgnip the connecting body at approximately a nodal area thereof. The energizing coil is supplied with biased alternating current which establishes and alternating mag netic field at and in adjacent relation to a nodal area of the magnetostrictive transducer section. The alternating magnetic field thus [established has a frequency within j the range of the resonance frequency of vibration for become apparent as'the disclosure proceeds.

The apparatus of this invention embraces an improved acoustical vibrator assembly of high operating efficiency, and which includes a vibrator unit composed of a. magnetostrictive transducer section bl'onded toa connecting body designedto operate as an acoustical impedance transformer. The magnetostrictive transducer section is composed :of a compact stack of relatively thin magnetostnictive metal plates or laminates of generally arcuate shape and whose c oncavo convex curvature is not substantially more than'sixty degrees, and preferably. in the range'of approximately twenty-five degrees to forty-live degrees. By making the magnetostrictivelaminates which compose the stack of identical shape and form and of limited conc'avoconvex curvative, the laminates can be compactly stacked with, substantially no .|gap therebetween, and yet can be made relatively thin so. that the applied magnetic ilux penetrates the laminates .to a substantial degree, and yet of sufiicient stiffness so that the laminates will not bend when longitudinally vibrated at the operating trequency. The relatively thin arcuately shapedmagnetostrictive laminates have the same physical length when compactly assembled in the stacked relation, and which length conforms to one-half wavelength or an integral multiple number of half wavelengths of sound traveling longitudinally through the magnetostrictivelam inates at the operating frequency. Thestacked lam.- inates are also held in compactly stacked relation by a clamping device so formed and applied that the device does not impede the longitudinal vibration of the laminates which compose the stack.

One end of each of the compactly stacked laminates is rigidly bonded to one end of a connecting body designed to operate at an acoustical impedance transformer so that the output end thereof vibrates at a substantially greater amplitude than its input end where the vibrations are injected by the energized magnetostrictive [transducer stack. The output end of the connecting Ibody presents an end face which may be used to vibrate orcavitate liquids, :or as is generally knownin the art, may have a work tool fixed thereto for boring, cutting or chipping hard materials, with .orwithout the use of abrasive slurries. The connecting body has a physical length corresponding to one-half wavelength or integral multiple number of one-half wavelengths :of sound 'travel-.

ing through the connecting body at the frequency of vibration injected into the input end thereof. 'llhe magnetostnictive transducer stack and a sectio of the connecting body are designed to he removably inserted into a casing 101 housing which contains an energizing coil supported on a suitable spool contained within the casing, and through which the magnetostrictive supported by a collar fixed to one end of the casing and which is provided with clamping studs designed to releas- Although the characteristics features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, .and the manner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a pant hereof, in which:

FIG. v1 is a pictorial illustration of one dorm of vibrator assembly constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the improved vibrator assembly made in accordance with this invention, and corresponding to the vibrator assembly shown in FIG. 1;

transducer section is telescoped. The vibrator'junit. is

FIG. 3 is another longitudinal section of the vibra tor assembly as the same would appear when viewed along line .33 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 isa transverse section of the vibrator assembly asthe same would appear when viewed in the direction of the arrows along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is another transverse section of the vibrator assembly as the same would appear when viewed in the direction of the arrows along line 5- 5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a turther transverse, section of the vibrator assembly as the same would appear when viewed along line r6-6 of FIG. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and the specification. i

In general, the apparatus of this invention embraces a vibratorassembly A whose tubular housing 10* contains and supports a vibrator unit 1 whose tool or working face 7 projects beyond one end of the tubular housing 10' as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. The vibratory assembly A may be mounted in inclined or any other convenient position by means of a suitable bracket 108 which may be fixed to a supporting structure. The vibratory assembly A is so supported and mounted that the working end of its vibrator unit is operative to perform the desired work on the workpiece. I

The vibrator assembly A, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive, essentially comprises a vibrator unit 1 which includes a transducer section 2 connected to the input end of an amplitude magnifying connecting body or acoustical impedance transformer 5 whose output end 7 provides the working or tool face of the vibrator assembly.v The transducer section 2, operating at a frequency in the order of five to fifty thousand cycles per second, is composed of a stack of thin magnetostrictive metal plates or laminates '2 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Each metal plate 2' is of unifiorm thickness and concavo-convex in cross-section 'and is formed from a metal such aslperma-niclcel, .permendur, or other metal having high tensile. strength :and is highly magnetostrictive in character, so. that the tnansducersection 2 will longitudinally vibrate to a maximum degree when sub.- jected to the influence of an alternating magnetic held.

The stacked metal plates 2' which compose the transducer section 2 may be maintained in compact internested relation as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by means of a re- .silient clamp 3 which includes a body .pin 3 set within a conforming bore drilled through the plate stack, and which has a threaded end portion 3" to which a clamp nut 3 may be adjustably applied. The inner end of the body pin 3? is connected to one end of a tension spring 4 whose other end is connected to a plug pin 4' having a threaded end portion 4" to which a clamp nut 4" is applied, By a proper manipulationof the clamp nuts 3" and 4", the stacked plates w may be clamped together to provide a compact stack, but which nevertheless. per- .mits such dififerenti-al longitudinal expansion of the com-I pactly stacked platesas may result from variations in temperature to which the stacked plates are subjected when energized by an-alternating magnetic field.

The output end of the transducer section 2 is rigidly connected to the input end of the connecting body 5. The 7 connecting body 5 presents an enlarged body section '5 which may be generally rectangular in cross-section and preferably of larger cross-section than the transducer section 2; The enlarged body section 5 of the connecting body 5 is rigidly secured to the output end of the transducer section 2 as by silver solder, and presents its narin alignment with the edge faces of the enlarged body section 5', and with the side faces thereof integrally joined to the side faces of the enlarged body section 5' by tapered neck faces 6'. The substantially flat and rectangular end face 7 of the reduced body section 5" of the connecting body provides the working or tool attaching face of the vibrator unit. The connecting body '5 should be made of a strong metal such as, Monel metal, titanium, Phosphor'bronze, beryllium copper or the like having high tensile strengthand efficient vibration transmitting capabilities.

The transducer section 2 of the vibrator unit 1 should have'a length corresponding to one-half wavelength of sound or integral multiples thereof traveling longitudinally throughxthe material of the transducer section at the vibration frequency of the'tnansducer section; and the connecting body 5 together with any tool attached thereto shouldhave a combined length corresponding to onehalf wavelength of sound or integral multiples thereof traveling longitudinally through the material of the connecting body and any tool attached thereto at the vibration frequency of the transducer section. The vibnator unit 1 should be designed to produce longitudinal motion strokes 'at the working face 7 thereof and whose amplitude maybe in the order of oneto three-thousandths of an inch; The length of the longitudinal motion strokes may be designed into the vibrator unit 1 in accordance with the metals from which it is formed, the acoustical characteristics of the metal, the frequency of vibration,

and the length, shape and form of its components asexplained in patent Re. 25 .083.

shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thetubular casing 11 contains and supports a winding spool 12 formed of non-magnetic body 12 and whose circular peripheries are in bearing contact with the inside surface of the tubular casing 11.

An enamel coated current conducting wire 13 is wound in a multiplicity of layers on the tubular body 12 ofthe, winding spool 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The tubular body 12 of the winding spool 12 is preferably generally rectangular in cross-section to receive the rectangular intermediate portion of the transducer section 2 which extends therethrough, with the energizing winding '13 positioned in relatively close proximity to the intermediate portion of the transducer section 2. Biased alternating'current of selected frequency is supplied to the" winding 13 to thereby establish an alternating magnetic field in surrounding relation tothe intermediateportion of thetransduce-r section 2, to thereby cause the transducer section to longitudinally vibrate in accordance with the frequency of the biased alternating current and the acoustical characteristics of the metal from which the tnansducer section 2. is made.

The terminal lead wires 13' Whichextend fror n the winding'13 .are provided withterrnin al socket connectors which may be molded into a'supporting plug 14. The

supporting plug'14 snugly seats within an externally threaded collar portion 11' whichmaybe integrally formed as a part of the tubular casing 11. 'Insertprongs' supported by a companion supporting plug 14 are designed to be plugged into the socket connectors. .The prong supporting plug 14may be snugly pocketed within an internally threaded coupling 15 which may be ap plied to the externally threaded collar portion '11 of the tubular casing 11. A flexible conduit 15 contains the cur-rent supply wires 13" which are secured to the terminal prongs. The. flexible conduit 15 and the current supply wires 13 contained therein lead to a source of biased alternating current of selected frequency as hereafterdescribed.

A vibrator unit supporting collar 16, attached to the flange portion 16" over which the head end of the" tubular casing 11 may be snugly telescoped and secured as by suitable screws. t

The vibrator unit 1 is held in operative position by three studs 18, two of which are positioned along one of the broad sides of the vibrator unit connecting body 5. The third stud :18- is positioned adjacent the opposite broad side of the vibrator unit connecting body. Each of the three studs 18 presents a body portion 18', an en.-

larged head portion 18'', and a centering crown 1'8" designed to seat snugly Within a conforming pocket 5a formed in the adjacent broad side face of the-enlarged body section 5 of the vibrator unit 1. As shownin FIG. 6, the body portions 18" of the two studs adjacent one broad side of the connecting body 5 are each fitted within a bored hole 16a formed'in-the body. wall16' of the supporting collar 16, with the headpontions 18-7 thereof seating against the inner side face of the body wall 16 of the supporting collar 16. The centering crowns 18" of [the two adjacent supportingv studs v18 provide bearing support for the adjacent broad side of the enlarged body section 5- of the connecting body 5 of the and non-electrical conducting material and which presents a tubular body 12 in surrounding relation to the transducer section a of the vibrator unit, and which is supported by circular side plates 12 fixed to the tubular vibratory unit. a

The third supporting stud 18 on the opposite broad:

side of the connecting body 5 of the vibrator unit has a body portion 18- which extends into a socket hole 19 formed the end of an externally threaded plug 19 which is threaded into a threaded bore'extending radially through the body wall 16 of the supporting collar 16.

The threaded plug 19 has an exposed head portion 19 int mulation of the threaded plug 19, 'withoutrotating the stud 18 associated therewith. t The centeringc'rowns i 18' 'of the three suppofitin'g studs '18 are positioned to engage the connecting body of the vibrator unit 1 in the approximate area of a node" of vibration thereof;

By manipulating the exposed head portion 1 9 of the threaded plug 19', the centeringfcrown 1'8"" of itsstud 18 may be withdrawn from the adjacent centeringpocket JSa'fformed in the connecting body 5, and the entire vibrator unit 1 then withdrawn from the housing 10. Inlike manner, the threaded plug 19 may be manipulated sotha-t the'centering crown 18 of its stud 18 seats in the, adjacent conforming pocket 5a formed-on the adj' acent side of the connecting body s to firmly secure the vibnator unit in mounted position between the centering crowns 18" of the three studs .18,'with thereduced body section *5" of the vibrator unit 1 extending beyond the body wall 16 ofthe supporting collar '16. As known 'to 'the skilled i'nthe art, the nodal area of longitudinal vibration o'fthe connecting body 5 has a minor component of radial vibration whose amplitude is approximately one-fourth the amplitude of the longitudinal vibratibns, "in accordance with Poissons ratio. These 'minor amplitude radial vibrations are not dampened by {thestnds 18' when their centering crows 18 are seated inconforrning pockets 5a of the connecting body 5.

Since the transducer section 2 and exciting coil 13 generate heat during vibration, it is desirable to provide a coolant in surrounding relation to-the transducer section 2 .to maintain the transducer section, 2, connecting body Sand surrounding tubular housing in relativelyf co0l condition; This may-be accomplished by driving a stream 7 of cooling air through thejtubnla'r'casin'gll as by means of a turbine type fan 21 contained ina fan casing 22 having an air stream directing throat section 23 connected to the tail end :of the tubular casing 11. This connection may be made by the provision; of an end collar 20-, as showninFIGS. 2 and 3, having an inset shoulder portion 20' which telescopes. into the tail end of the tubular casing 11 and'is suitably secured 3 thereto as by securing power motor 24 is sulficient. to generate the required air stream. The generated air stream freely flows through the tubular body 12' of the Winding spool 12 and around the transducer section 2 and a portion of the connecting body Sto thereby cool the same,v and also flows through spaced air holes 12"" formed in the circular side plates 12 "of the winding suppohting spool 12 to theneby cool the coil winding 13. The warmed air escapes through a series of'sp-aced holes, '11? formed in the circular wall of the tubular casing 11 adjacent the inset flange portion 1'6 of the vibratorunit supporting collar '16.

The-relatively thin magnetostrictive metal plates or laminates 2' which compose the transducer stack 2 are mades'ubstantially identical in width and length as shown FIGS. 2,3; 4 and 5, and each has the same arcuate or concavo conveir curvature which is not substantially more than sixty degrees, and preferably in the order of twenty degrees to forty-five degrees. The metal plates or laminates 2 are also of substantially the same thickness, and as customary, are coated with an oxide of the metal of which they are composed to reduce eddy current losses. By limiting the coiicavo convex curvature of the laminates as'illu'strated in-FIGS. 4 and 5, the laminates can be compactly stacked with substantially no spacing or gap therebetween. Thlanunates 2f may also be made relatively thin so that the magnetic flux, supplied by the surrounding alternating magneticffield generated by the energized windingl-S; penetrates the thickness of the laminates to a major degree, and yet; due to their concave-convex cur- V vature,the laminates can be made s'ufliciently stiff and rigid-whencompactly nested together, so that no appreciable bendingmovement or bending wavesoccur along the leiigth'ofthe laminates when longitudinally vibrated at the operating frequency.

' keyjconnection, so thatthe laminates can independently screws. The end .closurecollar 2tt-has a. rectangular shaped airinlethole 20"-- therein'whichconforms to the rectangular area ofithe air inlet throat 's'ection'f23 of the fancasing 22;. The air inletthroat section 23 of 'fan a casing 22 may be provided with flared flanges 23' secured to theinte'rior end face of the ehd collar 20 as by-suitable screws'as shownin-FIG. 3.

The fan casing 22 and its rectangular air inlet throat section 23 may befiormed of two half sections each presenting'asemi-circularbody portion 22:; joined to aside wall'rim 22b which merges into the airinlet throat'section23, as shown in'FIGS. 2 and .3. The half sections may be providedwith outwardlyflared flange portions 22 which may be'detachably secured together as, by spaced screws'to thereby provide convenient a'cc e'ss toi'the winding coil-which is relatively short in length and is It will also be noted, by referrring to FIGS. 2 ,3 and 4, thatthe laminates at the free'end o'fzthe' transducer stack are not joined by the customary solder cap or soldered vibrate without impediment, and which feature fuuther reduces flexural strains on the laminates. Each of the stack laminates,however, is rigidly bonded asby silver solder to the adjacent endof the connectinghody 5. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; the adjacent end of the connecting body 5 should havea soldering area which is not less than the'Jcro'ss-sectionalarea of the compactly stacked laminatesjso that a rigid bond therebetwe'en is assured. I It will also be notedby referring to FIGS. 2 3 and 5,

tha tfthe wihdingglfi presents a plurality of 'layer-s of cornpa'ctly wound and insulated winding wine to providea c' i'eiit'efed at ,an'odal area uof thetransducer stack 2, so 'thatthe alternating} mfighotic field produced thereby is eencenrra ed at the nodal area,, with resultant minimum peweflos' and-maximu use of input power in the-"pro 21 contained in the halffsectio'ns of m al casing The-turbine type fan 21pr'e'sent s a. seriesof curvilinear blades 21'. 1 One end of the curvilinear blades 21," are secured to a connecting ring 21ft and the'other e nd' ofthe blades are s ecured to a circular' connecting plate 21.'

The fan" 21 is driven by afractional horsepowerfconstanit speed motor 24 whose casing is secured to thefadjacent ,sidej wall-rim 22b of the fan casing'22. The motor shaft 24 i-'s ;secured we hub portion 24" which forms a part ofthe sidewall plate 21"* of the fan 21'.

Since an air flow. in the order of" ten cubic feefper minute is sufhcient to'isupply adequate cooling of the duction of useful'mechanicalvibrations. By the use of vcooling air to cool the transducer section 2; the heat generated by the transducer.section-during vibration is tense-na removed and is kept relatively cool, thereby pr'servingfits magn'etostnictive qualitiesand insuring a long iiscfu'l' f thereof; The vibrator unit comprising the hamsterreadily'renievea-and replaced. Theworking face 7 of 'tlievibrato'r assembly above'disclosed canibe used for the .jeatianon of liquidsand the cavitational cleaningof porous lob jects, by securing a suitable work tool to the workin-g end of the connecting body 5, various boring,

cutting, c ipping and drilling operations can be performed with or without the use of abrasive slurries, as is well wn i th a -t- Y he entire vi-bratorassembly A, including housing 10;yibpator unit 1; the fan casing 22 the fan .21 conction Z and connecting body 5 can also be.

. 7 tained therein, and its driving motor 24 mounted thereon, may be assembled as a completely integrated unit. The vibrator assembly A can be adjustably mounted as by means of a mounting bracket-108 attached to its supporting collar 1-6, and which can be rigidly orgadjustably attached to a convenient support. The bracket 108 provides a rigid but adjustable support for. the vibrator assembly sothat its working or tool iiace 7 may beprecisely posh tioned at the. desired location withrespect to the workpiece to-be operated upon or the-fluid medium, to be vibrated.

While the vibrator assembly maybe designed lto longitudinally vibrate the tool or working face 70f its vibrator unit at any idesiredtreque-ncy inthe order of nem'nve to fifty k-c. per second, it has beentound that vibrations in the ultrasonic trequencyrange of fifteen to thirty kc. are preferred for most work operations. In this connection, it will be appreciated-that thevibrator unit is constructed, proportioned and designed to; vibrate at resonance at the preferred iirequency of'opera-tion, and

that the generating system'is so designed and tuned as to operate at the optimumresonance frequency of the vibrator unit 1. In a frequency range of fifteen-to thirty kc., the vibrator assembly A may be designed to longitudinally vibrate the working or tool race 7 at aniampl-itude in the order of approximately one-half thousandths to approxi 'mately three thousandths of'an inch. It will be apprecia'ted that-the tool or working face 7 of the vibrator unit 1 of the vibrator assembly A bas a shape and area best f suited to the work to be performed.

7 The power input required to vibrate the vibrator unit 1 of the vibrator assembly A is dependent upon the total mass of the vibrator unit '1, the area of its tool or working face 7, the frequency at 'Which it is to be vibrated and other factors. Under these conditions, the wattage'iriput may vary from a low of approximately 100 watts to as high as 5,000 watts or higher. a h

or the vibrator assem- By making the working face 7 bly Act appropriate shape, the apparatus of this invention can be advantageously and eliectively employed for the cavitational cleaning of a wide range of intricate objects and articles, such as-ponous filters, bearing assem blies, clock and watch works,- instrument: assemblies and like devices whose intricate working elements present min ute pores, cavities, passages or interstices containing impacted debris. or other foreign material which must be thoroughly removed; As is generally known in the art,

the working face 7 may constitute a work tolol or a work tool having a working end may be rigidly attached thereto, with the working race or work ,tool appropriately shapedfor use in boring, cutting, chipping, (forming or shapingnuineroushard materials, 1 of abrasive s'lu-rries.

with or" without the use "i While certain novel ieatures'of invention have been disclosed herein; and are pointed outfin the-claims, it

will be understood thatvariousomissions, substitutions,

and changes may be made those skilled in the art, without depart-ing from the teachingsot' this invention,

What is claimed isi I v I '1. A vibrator unit having a magnetostrictive transducer ergized by a surrounding high oicequency alternating magstacked concavo-convexlaminates having a length which corresponds to one-half wavelength of sound or. an integral multiple number thereof'traveling longitudinally through the 1 stack-ed laminates at the frequency of vibrationlinduced by the surrounding alternating magnetic field; and a connecting body composed of vibration transmitting material having one end iace'thereof rigidly bonded to on of the respective adjacent ends of each of said stacked concave-convex laminates;

1 .2.;A vibrator unit having", a rnag-netostricti-ve 3 ducer section designedto be longitudinally vibrated "when energized by a surrounding high frequency alternating magnetic field, said'transducer section being composedof a multiplicity of similar rnagnetostrictive laminates of r uniform width, length and thickness and which are com pactly stacked in internesting relationship; each ot said' similar laminates having a concavoiconvex cross-section whose curvature is not substantially more than sixty gdegrees and whereby compact internesting of adjacent stacked laminates can be achieved with substantiallysno gap between the adjacent surfaces of the stack laminates; j

the dimensional thickness of each laminate being'sufiiciently thin to insure penetration of the magnetic flux, as

generated by the surrounding high frequency alternating f magnetic held, through a major part ofthe thickness ,of

' thelam-inate; said stacked concave-convex laminates having a length which corresponds to one-half wavelengthof sound ,or an integralrnultiple number thereof traveling longitudinally through the stacked laminates at the irequency of vibration induced by the surrounding alter-hat ing field; a connecting body composed of vibration trans rnitting material having one end thereof rigidly bonded to one of the respective adjacent ends of each of said stacked concavo-convex laminates, the opposite ends ofv said stacked laminates beingindependent ot each other and unrestricted istheir individualized longitudinal vibra-' tions; and means-intermediate the ends of said stacked I laminates for maintaining the laminates in compactly I stacked relation without rnater ialdampening ofthe lon'gitudinal vibrations 'set up therein,

3.;Avibrator unit having amagnetostrictivetransducer 1 section designed to be longitudinally vibrated whenenergized by a surrounding high frequency alternating mag netic field, said transducer s'eotionbeing composed of a multlplicity'of similar magnetostrictive laminates of tuniform width, length and thickness and which are compactly stacked in 'internesting relationship; each offsaidsimilar.

laminates having a concavo-convexcross-section whose curvature is not substantially more than sixty" degreesand whereby compact internesting of adjacent stack laminates can be achieved withisubstantially. no gap between [the adjacent surfaces of thestack laminates; the dimensional H 1 thickness of each lamina'tebeing suiiiciently'thin to insure penetnation'of the magnetic flux; as generated by the su'rrounding "high frequency alternating ,ma'gnetic field, through a major. part of the. thickness of the laminate;

, said stacked concave-convex laminates havinga, length sectionidesi-gnedtobe longitudinally vibrated when ennetic field, sa-id'tnansducer section being composed of a multiplicity of similar magnetost-rictive laminates of uniform width, lengtl1 and thickness and which are compactl ystacked in intemesting relationship; each of said similar lammates' having a concavo con-vex cross-section j whose; curvature isnot more than sixty degrees and where: by compact internesting or adjacent stacked laminates can "be achievedwith substantially no gap between the adjacent surfaces of the stacked laminates; the dimensional thickness of each laminate being sufficientlythinfto ina surelpenetr-ation :ofrthe magnetic flux, as-generatedby the surrounding-high frequency alternating -magnetic field, through a majoripartof-the' thickness of the l-aminate;'said which corresponds to one-half Wavelength of sound organ integral multiple number thereof traveling longitudinally] r through the stacked laminates at the frequency of vibration induced by the surrounding alternating magneticfield;

stacked relation 'withoutmaterial dampening of the longitudinal vibrations set uptherein'which includes, aih'ole' extending transversely through said stacked laminates adjacent the free ends thereof, and clampingmeans extending loosely through said hole and in seatingengagement a with the outer surfaces of the opposite]outermost;lanai nates.

4. A vibrator assembly including in combination; a

vibrator unit having a transducer section composed of a multiplicity of similar and relatively thin magneto st-rictive laminates of uniform width, length, thickness and concave-convex curvature and which are compactly stacked in internesting relationshipand operative-to longitudinally vibrate at high frequency and small amplitude whenenergized by a high frequency. alternating magnetic field,and a vibration transmitting acoustical impedance transformer whose input end is rigidly bond-ed to one end of the respective adjacent ends of said compactly stacked laminates and whose output end is provided with means for performing work; a housing having a collar section and a tubularbody section extending from said collar section, said collar section being positioned to surround a sectional length of said acoustical impedance transformer and having an axial hole therein through which the output portionof the acoustical impedance transformer is designed to externally project and through which the transducer section and the input portion of said.

transformer may be inserted'intoand withdrawn from the body section of the housing, and adjustable means associated with said collar section and adapted to releasably engage said transformer at approximately a node of longitwdinal vibration thereof'to thereby removably support said vibrator unit in operative position; an'energizing winding extending around but con-fined to the intermediate portion 'of said transducer section and operative when energized by high frequency alternating current to establish a concentrated and high frequency alternating magnetic field around the intermediate portion of said transducer section, and 'means for supporting said winding within the tubular body section of said housing but independently of said vibrator unit.

5. A vibrator assembly including in combination; a vibrator uni-t having a transducer section composed of a multiplicity of similar and relatively-thin magnetostrictive laminates of uniform width, length, thickness and concavo-convex curvature ,and which are compactly of the respective adjacent ends of. said compactly stacked.

laminates and v'vhc ise output end is provided with means for performingwork; a housing 'havingan axial, hole at one'end'thereo'f through which the output portion of the acoustical impedance transformer is designed to externally project and through which the transducer section and the input portion of said transformer may be inserted into and withdrawn from said housing, and adjustable means associated with said housin'g and adapted to releasably engage said transformer at approximately a node of longitudinal vibration thereof and thereby removably support.

said vibrator unit in operative position; an energizing Winding extending around but confined to the intermedi- 10 of said compactly stacked laminates and Whose output end is provided with means for performing work; a housing having a collar section and a tubular body section extending from said collar section, said collar section being positioned to surround a sectional length of said acoustical impedance transformer and having an axial hole therein through which the output portion of the acoustical impedance transformer is designed to externally project and through which the transducer section and the input portion of said transformer may be inserted into and withdrawn from said housing, and adjustable means associated with said collar section and adapted to releasably engage said transformer at approximately a node of vibration thereof and thereby removably support said vibrator unit in operative position; an energizing winding extending around and confined to the intermediate portion of said transducer section and,

operative when energized by high frequency alternating current to establish a concentrated and high frequency alternating magnetic field around the intermediate portion of said transducer section, and means for supponting said winding within said housing and independently of said vibrator unit; and a blower fan connected to the opposite end of said housing for propelling a gaseous cool-ant into said housing and in surrounding relation to said transducer section, and warmed coolant exit ports in the tubular wall of said housing adjacent the other end thereof.

7. A vibrator unit having a magnetostrictive transducer section designed to be longitudinally vibrated when energized by a surrounding high frequency alternating magnetic field, said transducer section being composed of a multiplicity of-similiar magnetostrictive laminates of uniform Width, length and thickness and which are compactly stacked in internesting relationship; each of said similar laminates having a concavo convex cross-section Whose curvature is in the ,order of twenty tofooty-five flux, as generated by the surrounding high frequency ate portion of said transducer section and operative when energized by high frequency alternating current to establish a concentrated and high frequency alternating magnetic field around the intermediate portion of said transducer section, and means for supporting said Winding within said housing and independently of said vibrator unit;

vand means for propelling a gaseous coolant into said housrigidly bonded to one end of the respective adjacent ends alternating magnetic field, through a major part of 'the thickness of the laminates, said stacked concavo-convex laminates having a length which corresponds to one half wavelength of sound /or an integral multiple number thereof traveling longitudinally through the stacked laminates at the frequencyv of vibration induced by the surrounding alternating magnetic field; and a connecting body composed of vibration transmitting material having one end face thereof rigidly bonded to one of the respective adjacent ends of each of said stacked concavo-constacked in internesting relationship and operative to longitudinally vibrate at high frequency and small amplitude when energized by a high frequency alternating magnetic field, and a vibration transmitting acoustical,

impedance transformer whose input end is rigidly bonded to one end of the respective adjacent ends of said compactly stacked laminates and whose'output end is proadapted to releasably engage said transformer at approximately a node of longitudinal vibration thereof and thereby removably support said vibrator unit in operative position; an energizing winding extending around but confined to the intermediate portion of said transducer section and operative when energized by high frequency alternating current to establish a concentrated and high frequency alternating magnetic field around the intermediate portion of said transducer section, and means for supporting said winding within said housing and independently of said vibrator unit,

9. A vibrator assembly including in combinatioma vibrator unit having a transducer section designed to be longitudinally vibrated when energized by a surrounding high frequency alternating magnetic field, said transducer section being composed of arnultiplicity of similar and relatively thin magnetostrictive laminates of uniform width, length, and thickness and which are compactly stacked in internesting relationship, each, of said similar laminates having a concavo-convex cross-section whose curvature is not more than sixty degrees and whereby compact internesting of adjacent stacked laminates can be achieved with substantially no gap between the adjacent surfaces of the stacked laminates, said stacked 'concavo-convex laminates having a leng-thwhich corresponds to one-half wavelength of sound or an integral 7 multiple number thereof traveling longitudinally through the stacked laminates at the frequency of vibration induced by the surrounding alternating magnetic field, and a vibration transmitting acoustical impedance transformer whose input end is rigidly bonded to one end of the respective adjacent ends of said compactly stacked laminates and whose output end is provided with means for performing work; a housing having an axial hole at one end thereof through which the output portion of the acoustical impedance transformer is designed to externally project and through which the transducer sec- 'tion and the input portion of said transformer may be inserted into and withdrawn from said housing, and means associated with said housing and adapted to releasably engage said transformer at approximately a node of longitudinal vibration thereof and thereby removably support said vibrator unit in operative position; an

energizing, winding extending around said transducer section and operative when energized by high frequency alternating current to establish a concentrated and high frequency alternating magnetic field around the intermediate portion of said transducer section, and means for supporting said winding. within said housing and independently of said vibrator unit.

10. A vibrator assembly including in combination; a vibrator unit having a transducer section designed to be adjacent stacked laminates can be achieved with substantially no gap between the adjacent surfaces of the stacked laminates, the dimensional thickness of each laminate being suflicien'tly thin to insure penetration of the magnetic flux as generated by the surrounding high frequency alternating magnetic field through a major part of the thickness of the laminates, said stacked concavo-convex laminates having a strengthwhich corresponds to onehalf wavelength of sound or an integral multiple number; i 7

thereof travel-inglongitudinally through the stacked lam inates at the frequency of vibration induced by the surrounding alternating magnetic field, and a vibration transmitting acoustical impedance transformer whose input end is rigidly bonded to one end of the respective adjacent ends of said compactly stacked laminates and whose output end is provided with means for performing work;

a housing having an axial hole at one end thereof through Y 'which the output portion of the acoustical impedance transformer is designed to externally project and through which the transducer section and the input portion of said transformer may be inserted into and withdrawn from said housing, and means associated with said housing and adapted to releasably engage said transformer at approximately a node of longitudinal vibration thereof and thereby removably support said vibrator unitin operative position; an energizing windingextending around but confined to the intermediate portion of said trans-,

ducer section and operative when energized by high frequency alternating current to establish a concentrated and high frequency alternating magnetic field around the intermediate portion of said transducer section, and meansfor supporting said winding within said housing and independently of said vibratorunit.

References Cited in the file of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,911

Hallidayv Mar. 29, 2,947,890 Harris Aug. 2, 1960 2,951,975 Carlin Sept/6, 1960 2,991,400

Burgt July 4, 

1. A VIBRATOR UNIT HAVING A MAGNETOSTRICTIVE TRANSDUCER SECTION DESIGNED TO BE LONGITUDINALLY VIBRATED WHEN ENERGIZED BY A SURROUNDING HIGH FREQUENCY ALTERNATING MAGNETIC FIELD, SAID TRANSDUCER SECTION BEING COMPOSED OF A MULTIPLICITY OF SIMILAR MAGNETOSTRICTIVE LAMINATES OF UNIFORM WIDTH, LENGTH AND THICKNESS AND WHICH ARE COMPACTLY STACKED IN INTERNESTING RELATIONSHIP; EACH OF SAID SIMILAR LAMINATES HAVING A CONCAVO-CONVEX CROSS-SECTION WHOSE CURVATURE IS NOT MORE THAN SIXTY DEGREES AND WHEREBY COMPACT INTERNESTING OF ADJACENT STACKED LAMINATES CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH SUBSTANTIALLY NO GAP BETWEEN THE ADJACENT SURFACES OF THE STACKED LAMINATES; THE DIMENSIONAL THICKNESS OF EACH LAMINATE BEING SUFFICIENTLY THIN TO INSURE PENETRATION OF THE MAGNETIC FLUX, AS GENERATED BY THE SURROUNDING HIGH FREQUENCY ALTERNATING MAGNETIC FIELD, 